Box Score

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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Tennessee Tech posted a 4-0 shutout over the Panther baseball team in the Ohio Valley Conference series opener between the two schools on Friday afternoon at Coaches Stadium.
 
The Panthers fall to 10-23 overall and 4-9 in conference play while the Golden Eagles improve to 27-9 on the year and 10-6 in OVC action.
 
"Today was a typical Friday in conference play with two dominant pitchers going against each other," said Eastern Illinois head coach Jim Schmitz. "(Matt) Borens was fantastic today minus two pitches. Give credit to their starting pitcher though, he was outstanding."
 
Brandon Thomasson hit a two-out, solo home to left field in the top of the sixth inning to break open the scoreless game and give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 advantage. TTU pushed its lead to four in the next inning on a two-out, three-run homer by Zach Stephens.
 
Demetre Taylor hit a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning before Brant Valach gave the Panthers two base runners with a double to left field on the next at bat. TTU's Seth Lucio relieved starter David Hess and retired the final two EIU batters to end the comeback effort. Lucio earned his eighth save of the year in the win.
 
Both teams had six hits in the contest and left six runners on base. EIU committed one error while TTU did not have any miscues.
 
Caleb Howell and Valach both went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Panther offense. Dane Sauer and Taylor were the only other two players to record a hit in the game.
 
Stephens paced the Golden Eagles offense as he with 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run.
 
David Hess (6-2) earned the win for TTU, striking out five batters with no walks in 8.1 scoreless innings.
 
Matt Borens (1-3) was tagged with the loss for EIU as the junior pitcher threw nine strikeouts while allowing four runs (one earned) in the complete-game performance. He now has three complete games in his career.
 
Game two of the weekend series is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.